Nantes vs Auxerre Prediction & Betting Tips (25 August)

FC Nantes has been playing with fire for several years now in the race to maintain itself and there is not really anything to be optimistic about this season again on the Beaujoire side. Last May, the Cité des Ducs de Bretagne club only took 14th place in the Ligue 1 standings with a fairly small lead of only 4 units over the barrage and future relegated Metz. This year, the Canaries left with Antoine Kombouaré at their head and they were rather successful in their preparation phase by not conceding the slightest defeat and finishing with 2 draws conceded against Lorient 1-1 and Crystal Palace 1-1. On their momentum, the Nantais went to seek a new score of parity on the pitch of Toulouse 0-0 during the 1st day. For its part, AJ Auxerre took much less time than during its previous relegation to regain Ligue 1.

In fact, it only needed a short season to make its return to the elite after winning, brilliantly, the title of Ligue 2 champion last May, ahead of Angers and Saint- Etienne in particular. This year, Christophe Pélissier's players will try to establish themselves in a much more lasting way at the highest level of French football and above all avoid getting back into the ascendancy. During their friendly match campaign, the Burgundians won against Troyes 1-2 and Red Star 2-0 before being beaten by Reims 5-3. On the other hand, last weekend, they negotiated their first day perfectly by forcing the decision in added time to win against Nice 2-1.

Rather convincing during their respective loan periods, the promising Abline (Rennes) and the striker Kadewere (Lyon) were definitively enlisted by the Nantes leaders. Welsh winger Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield) arrived on loan along with midfielder Lepenant (Lyon). Conversely, the former French international Sissoko (Watford), the midfielder Moutoussamy (free) and the winger Bamba (free) left in the same way as the Swiss defender Cömert (Valence), the full-back Cozza (Wolfsbourg) and the Ivorian striker Traoré (Sheffield United) who were only on loan last season. On the other hand, we still find in this team the Egyptian striker Mohamed (8 goals last year).

The Nigerian wisp Moses Simon (3 goals, 5 assists) is there too. Bad news for Kombouaré, the usual starters Mollet and Centonze and the long-term absentee Ganago, in the recovery phase, are all missing.